A vegetarian cooking program aired on the Seventh-day Adventist-owned Hope Channel was among the finalists to win a bronze award during the 29th annual Telly Awards this month.

“Cooking Vegetarian,” led by Adventist chef Sualua Tupolo, won in the “Education” category for its production value and quality of programming, producers said. The award marks the first Telly for the church’s official television network.

Show producer and director Joe Sloan said the award is a “significant acknowledgement” from the commercial community. Sloan, operations and production manager for the Hope Channel, said he submitted “Cooking Vegetarian” because of its broad audience appeal.

Tupolo, former executive chef for Adventist-owned Atlantic Union College, recently returned to his native American Samoa, having spent 25 years cooking for government officials and other dignitaries across the United States and the South Pacific, including members of the U.S. Congress and the king of Tonga.

The Telly Awards, founded in 1980 by seven-time Emmy winner David E. Carter, are judged by top advertising and production professionals and past winners. Each year, some 14,000 advertising agencies, production companies, television stations, cable companies and corporations from around the world enter their work for consideration.

“Cooking Vegetarian” is cosponsored by Worthington/Kellogg, a leading producer of vegetarian foods in the U.S.. For scheduling and more program information, visit www.HopeTV.org.